TNEF

melting point ? °C	boiling point ? °C	TNEF	molecular mass ? g/mol	density ? g/mL
table key	sensitivity ?	chemical formula X₂Y₃Z₄	explosive velocity ? m/s	estimated cost $?.00 /g

TNEF, an acronym for trinitroethyl formal, is a high explosive nitro substituted alcohol with a very high oxygen balance. Other names include 1,1'-[methylenebis(oxy)]bis[2,2,2-trinitro]-ethane; bis(2,2,2-trinitroethoxy)-methane; bis(2,2,2-trinitroethyl)formal; and TEFO. TNEF has found a use in many applications including land mines, an ingredient in propellants, and as an energetic plasticizer. It is typically used in admixture with other explosive compounds. TNEF has excellent thermal stability at elevated temperatures over an extended time

CHEMICALS APPARATUS

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Into a small Erlenmeyer flask add 3.62 g of dry trinitroethanol to 5 mL of concentrated (>96%) sulfuric acid. Heat the flask and swirl the contents to combine them. Let the flask cool to room temperature, and then add 0.30 g of paraformaldehyde while swirling the flask. Continue swirling the flask for 30-60 minutes to complete the reaction. As the paraformaldehyde dissolves the temperature of the reaction mixture will increase to around 35 C and some crystals may form. Pour the mixture into a beaker containing a small amount of crushed ice to precipitate the product. Add some water to the beaker to dilute the acid and filter to collect the precipitate. Wash the crystals thoroughly with water to remove all traces of acid and allow them to dry in a desiccator. Final yield is a little under 3.40 g or 90%.

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